Photo collections of towns help create settings and see the tends of the time.
I’ve been talking about ways to research my last few posts. Today I want to add another layer to historical research. Writers of other genres might find this useful. I love looking through photo books. They are like scrapbooks from the past. A photo documentary that allows you to linger over pages. I’ve posted a few covers of books I own. Unlike my family photos, these often have well-known historical people. The two books on Aurora, where I’ve lived for decades. The faces of Aurora lets me see the types of homes in the various periods, along with fashion and the layout of the town. I learn of the history along with tidbits related to various photos. If I wanted to place a story in this setting these are valuable details.
postcard collection reveals so much about the trends of the time.
Post Cards of Aurora achieves the same goal of a glimpse into yesteryear. Lots of explanation of the postcards. Some are landscapes, prominent buildings, or the sender’s portrait.
This photo book helps build settings and reveals more specific bits of history related to Aurora.
The other two books are coffee table books. If you don’t know that term, let’s go with the library term oversized. Back in my childhood, it wasn’t uncommon to have an interesting oversized book on your coffee table. Usually, one brimming with photographs, maps, and other illustrations. Some people placed them there to impress others and never cracked the covers.
I loved these large books. They took me to places I wanted to see or back in time so I might gain an understanding of our past.
The West is a plethora of interesting collections of photos from many settings the 1800s.
This book can capture your attention for hours.
The Civil War in Color contains many photos of the Commanders down to the washerwoman. Matthew Brady even placed himself in one of his photos. Teams of photographers covered the war on both sides. The victories, triumphs, and reflective moments.
I don’t write the Civil War era, but the photos still give me an idea of what my characters might have experience before they appear in the settings of my stories in the 1870s. Knowing your character’s backstory makes them more three dimensional.
This is another of those informative study the photos for hours book.
When researching a specific setting or timeframe these sorts of books allow you to immerse yourself in the subject matter. You can find some at used books stores or order them online. And of course the over-sized section of the library to check them out.
I might not have an intentional story idea in mind when I read through these mammoth tomes. But a picture may grab my attention and spark an idea.
Whether you are researching past centuries or time not so far away photo books are a wonderful source of inspiration as well as information.
Have you found any coffee table book that made a difference in creating your story world or doing your research for a non-fiction book?